Soap feeder



Oct. 3, 1939. o. c. SCHLACK 2,174,729

SOAP FEEDER Filed July 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3, 1939. o. c. SCHLACK 2,174,729

' son FEEDER Filed July 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hit M I ATTORNEYS;

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE soar manna om c. sc aktycmaa m. Application July 22.51938,"- Serial N6..22o,':4o

' 9 Claims. in. 22196) 1 I The present invention relates to a dispensing; "Figure 4 is a sectional view taken vertically and or feeding device and more particularly to a structure adapted for feeding powdered material at predetermined times.

The present invention contemplates more specifically the provision of a device for feeding a actuated to dispense a quantity of powder. ticulate formand in delivering the powdered} fingthe present invention is shown more in de- ,ftail, Figure 1 illustrates one form of dispensing reagent, such as soap, in the powdered or parmaterial to its point of use, the feeding-and delivery being carried out through the agency of a: flow of liquid.

It is an object of the present invention to pro,

vide a feeding and dispensing device, asabove,

adapted to handle and supply powdered material and to deliver it to a predetermined point of .delivery in predetermined quantities, free fro caking and clogging. l

A further object of the preseiit invention is to provide a soap feeding device, as above, which may be actuated under the influence of the flow of water or other liquid with which the powderous material is subsequently to be mixed but wherein the rate of feeding of the powdered substance is accurately controllable irrespective of the now or the quantity of said liquid flow. To this end the invention particularly comprehends the'provision of a chamber or other water accumulating device actuated by the aforesaid flow of water to feed predetermined increments of soap powder or the like but wherein the water actuated or accumulating member is provided with feed means for permitting ingress of the water at a predetermined, controlled rate.

The invention, therefore, further comprehends the provision of a feeding device, as above, having an adjustable control valve in combination with means to feed a flow of water in the vicinity of said control valve at all times.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a powder agitating means actuated by the measuring and feeding'means so that an accurately predetermined quantity of powder will be measured and delivered. 7

Numerous other objects and advantages will more fully appear during the course and progress. of the following specification. v I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a washing machine embodying my present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, portions of the device bein broken away to show the exterior powder feeding structure. t

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

centrally through the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectionalview taken on the line 5--5 in Figure 4. v I Figure 6 is a view the same as Figure 5, but showing the relative position of the parts when Referring to the figures of the'drawingawherewhile a spray head l8 supplies a continuous spray of washing liquid for carrying out the washing step. It will be understood that the washing liquid may be circulated or recirculated in any desired manner although the details of the structure have not been disclosed for the reason that per se they form no part of the present invention.

The dispensing or feeding device proper comprises an integral casting 20 mounted exteriorly of the washing device and secured to the wall 12 by means of a bracket 22. This casting 20 com- I prises an upper cylindrical containeror hopper 24 open at'the top for accommodating a quantity of reagent to be fed to the washing machine. For purposes of illustration it will be assumed that the hopper 24 contains a body of soap or detergent powder. The lower portion of the casting 20 comprises a transversely extending cylinder 26 communicating at its top withthe interior of the hopper 24 through the agency of an aperture 28. A diametrically opposed aperture 30 at the bottom of the cylindrical portion 26 is surrounded by a converging, generally conically arranged' side wall 32 having the general configuration of a spout. This spout is adapted to deliver measured quantities of powdered material; as will hereinafter appear more in detail. I A measuring and feeding cylinder 34 is mounted within the outer cylinder 26, as shown in Figures 4 to fiybeing so arranged therein as to fit securelywhile at the same time permitting rotation within the outer cylinder 26 about the common'axis of the two cylinders. The central feeding cylinder 34 is rigidly mounted on the shaft-.36 through the agency of set screws 38 so that actuation of the shaft in a manner to be hereinafter described will control the rotational movementof the cylinder 84.

as at 12.

A recess 40 is formed. in said last namedcylinder by removing a portion of the material bounded by a flat plane intersecting the periphery of the cylinder I4 along spaced, parallel lines. Attention is directed to the fact that the recess 40 is alined with the apertures 26 and Ill and, in normal position, is arranged as in Figure 5 directly under and in communication with the first named said aperture. In this position, therefore, the predetermined space provided by the recess 40 will normally tend to fill with material from the hopper 24 and, when rotated through about 90 degrees, will dispense this predetermined quantity of material through the aperture 20.

The central measuring cylinder 34 is retained in position within its enclosing tubular cylinder 26 by means of end caps 42 apertured centrally to permit-passage of the shaft 36 and fastened rigidly to the casting 26 by machine screws 44.

The shaft 36 and, accordingly. the associated parts are normally at rest, retained in the position shown in Figures 1 and 5 through the agency arm for the purpose of controlling the counterweight effect.

In order to assure the supply of constant and predetermined quantities of powder, the hopper 24 is provided with an agitating device 56 comprising U-shaped wire membef's as and is rigidly secured at their ends to a sleeve 60 fastened to the central shaft 62 through the agency of a set screw 63. The shaft 62 is rotatably journalled in opposed embossments ,6 4}on the casting 20, in such a position that theagitator. cage .56 resides Just above the aperture-'28 in the bottom of'the hopper (see Figures 4 to6iinclusive). y

The agitator shaft 62 has'an end portion it conflgurated in the form of a crank and engaging the bifurcated end 66' of an actuating lever in which is welded to the'sleeve or bushing 60 In other words, the engagement between the end66- of the shaft 62 and the bifurcated end of thelever 10 provides a lost motion connection so that, when the shaft 36 is rotated, the shaft 62, and the agitator secured thereto, is rotated at a slightly greater an ular speed for keeping the aperture clear of any coherent masses of powder.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the elongated members 56 and 69 of the agitator are positioned relatively closely together (Figures 5 and 6) and these members are so arranged that they sweep across the aperture 26 just as the recess 40 comes into alinement therewith. The other elongated members is normally operate relatively remotely from the aperture 26 and, accordingly, are relatively spaced apart.

The angular movement of the shaft 36 is limited through the agency of flanges 14 formed by bending over opposite side portions of the lever 10 and, as is clearly shown in the drawings, these bent-over portions or tabs extend in a' airman strike against the adjacent embossment 64. Figures hand 6 specifically illustrate the position of the shaft 36 and its associated parts in either of its two limiting positions, as determined bycontact of the flanges i4 and the embossment 64.

The present feeding device is actuated through the agency of a liquid accumulating device or tank 16 (Figures 1 and 2) welded to a supporting block or bushing II which is rigidly secured to the shaft 36 by means not shown. It should be noted that the tank or container I6 is so arranged that its center of gravity is horizontally offset from the axis of the shaft 36 and is provided with bottom and side walls, as well as an enclosing top wall 18. The side walls are extended upwardly above the top wall It as at 60 so as to retain a quantity of liquid upon the top wall 16 at all times'when in use. In other words, the side walls 66 provide a shallow receptacle for liquid sprayed thereinto. The liquid thus retained enters interiorly of the vessel 16 through the valve or control gate l2.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the control aperture 62 comprises a cylindrical threaded bushing 84 mounted in the top wall 18 of the liquid accumulating tank 16, the bushing centrally accommodating a machine bolt 86 threaded thereinto having an L-shaped central bore 88.

It will be seen, therefore, that liquid on the by threading the machine screw axially into the bushing 84 in order to decrease the effective opening of the upper end of the L-shaped bore 6'. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the vessel I6 is provided with an aperture 96 in a short, upstanding side wall at the rlghthand side of Figure 2, which aperture permits emptying of the vessel 16 when in inverted position and vents the air in the tank at times when liquid is flowipg inwardlyvthrough the throttle control spray heads l6. Accordingly, the tray provided mined degree, it overbalances the counter-weight 46, causing the shaft to move in the direction of the dotted line arrow in Figure 2 until the tilting upper wall it will pass through the L-shaped. bore 86 and this flow of liquid may be throttled vessel reaches a lowermost position indicated by the dotted lines. shaft thus will have been moved through an angle in the neighborhood of 90 degrees to bring the dispensing cylinder 34. from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6.

In the last named position the measured quantity of powder in the recess "is permitted to drop through the aperture 30 in the spout 32 and thence through a suitable tube 94 connected therewith and leading into the lower part of the washing machine, 'as shown in Figure 1. The liquid contents of the vessel 16 meanwhile flow 'freely through the aperture 90, being vented by the valve control 62 and, when'the tank ultimately becomes empty, the counter-weight 46 .servestoreturn the parts to their' original position at which time the tank again commences to fill with liquid from the spray head It.

The present invention provides a dispensing device which is not dependent entirely upon the In the construction shown, the

ing means to prevent cohering of the reagent flow of water from the spray head or heads ll since adjustment of the control valve 82 will serveto determine the rate at which the tank I. fills with liquid and, accordingly, the rate at which the powdered material is fed to the machine; Inother words, the rateof periodicity of actuation of the shaft 36 may be dependent on the setting of the member 82, a trap 96" being provided in the top of the washing machine for access thereto.

The present invention provides a highly simplifled, eiiicient and inexpensive device for feeding material and particularly powdered material.

In accordance with the present invention the powdered material is fed through the agency of a tiltable liquid accumulating device while being positioned relatively, remotely from the flow of invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

.1. In combination with a liquid flow 'device,-

means to feed a reagent to said liquid flow device comprising a hopper for said reagent, means to measure and convey a predetermined quantity of said reagent to a predetermined point, said measuring means being in closed communication with the hopper for receiving a predetermined quantity of said reagent and for preventing further' feed thereafter, a tiltabie liquid accumulating chamber operatively connected to said measuring means and arranged in the path of said liquid flow for tilting to actuate sad means when a predetermined quantity of said flow has been accumulated, and valve control inlet means on said accumulating chamber to control the ingress of liquid thereto and adjustable independently of the liquid flow to determine the periodicity of operation of said chamber.

2. In a proportional feed device of the class described, a liquid flow device, a hopper for a powdered reagent exteriorly of the fluid flow device and having means thereon for receiving a predetermined quantity of reagent and delivering said predetermined quantity of reagent to the interior of said fluid flow device, liquid accumulating means within the fluid flow device and adapted to be actuated when a predetermined quantity of liquid has been accumulated by the flow of liquid therein for periodically actuating said feeding means, and oriflce means on the liquid accumulating means for restricting flow to said accumulating means irrespective of said how in said fluid fiow device for controlling the during said feeding step, a liquid tilting chamber operatively connected to the cylinder for rotation of the cylinder to discharging position, said tilting chamber being adapted to be arranged in the path of said flow for actuation after a predetermined quantity of said flow is accumulated in the chamber. 4. In a device of the class described, means for feeding a predetermined quantity of powdered reagent to a predetermined point, means to actuate said feeding means comprising a tiltingly mounted, fluid accumulating vessel adapted to be placed adjacent a point in the fluid flow to receive .a portion at least of said flow, and adjustable valve inlet means operatively associated with said vessel and restricting, the admission of fluid to said tilting vessel whereby tov ntrol the. rate of admissionoi'fluid.

5. In a feeding device of the class described for feeding powdered material to aflow'of liquid at a predetermined relative rate'and having means for recurrently feeding a measured quantity of powdered reagent to a predetermined point, and means for actuating said feeding means; the improvementwherein said actuating means comprises a tiltably mounted, fluid accumulating vessel adapted to be arranged adjacent a path of fluid flow for receiving a portion at least of said flow, said vessel providing an interior chamber, an upper portion above the chamber adapted to receive a limited quantity of fluid, and adjustable inlet control means between the said upper portion and said chamber for controllediy supplying.

fluid to the interior of said vessel, said vessel being adapted to tilt when a predetermined quantity of fluid has been admitted thereto.

6.,In a feeding device of the'class described for feeding powdered material to a flow of liquid at a predetermined relative rate and having means for recurrently feeding a measured quantity of powdered reagent to a predetermined point, and means for actuating said feeding means; the improvement wherein said actuating means comprises a tiltably mounted, fluid accumulating vessel adapted to be arranged adjacent a path of fluid flow for receiving a portion at least of said flow, said vessel being closed and having a liquid receiving tray thereon for initially accumulating liquid supplied thereto, and adjustable inlet control meansbetween said tray and the interior of said accumulating vessel for conveying liquid from said tray to the interior of the vessel, said control means being adjustable to determine the rate of flow into the'vessel. '7. In a device of the class described having means for feeding a predetermined quantity of powdered reagent to a predetermined point, and means to actuate said feeding means; the im-. provement which comprises an actuating means comprising a tiltable fluid accumulating vessel adaptedto be placed adjacent a point in the fluid flow, said vessel being substantially completely enclosed to provide an interior chamber and having an adjustable inlet aperture in the top wall and an outlet aperturein a side wall thereof. 8.-In a device of the class described, a tiltable liquid accumulating chamber, a hopper for a body of powdered material, means connected with said tiitable chamber to feed a predeter- .mined'quantity of said powdered material, a control arm, on said last named means, and powder agitating means in said body ofpowderous material and'operatively connected with said control arm and moved by actuation thereof for agitating the powder-bus means to prevent lumping thereof, said agitating means comprising a plurality 01 generally parallel elongated members 5 movable laterally through the powder, certain of said elongated members adjacent said feeding means being arranged closely together and others of said members located relatively remotely from said feeding means and being relatively substanw tially spaced.

9. A tilting chamber for use in combination with means for feeding a predetermined quantity 01 powdered reagent, said tilting-chamber being adapted to be arranged adjacent the path of flow oi. a liquid to accumulate a portion at leastot; -said.liquid ion tilting when a predetermined 

